THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. Today, my Administration is
releasing our 2008 National Drug Control Strategy. This report lays out
the methods we are using to combat drug abuse in America. And it
highlights the hopeful progress we're making in the fight against
addiction.

When I took office in 2001, our country was facing a troubling rate
of drug abuse, particularly among young people. Throughout America,
young men and women saw their dreams disrupted by the destructive cycle
of addiction. So I committed our Nation to an ambitious goal: In 2002,
we began efforts to cut drug use among young people by 25 percent over
five years.

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Our strategy has three key elements. First, we are working to
disrupt the supply of drugs by strengthening law enforcement and
partnering with other countries to keep drugs out of the United States.
Second, we're working to reduce the demand for drugs through prevention
and education programs. And third, we're providing treatment options
for those who've fallen prey to addiction.

These efforts have produced measurable results. Since 2001, the
rate of youth drug abuse has dropped by 24 percent. Young people's use
of marijuana is down by 25 percent. Their use of Ecstasy has dropped by
more than 50 percent. And their use of methamphetamine has declined by
64 percent. Overall, an estimated 860,000 fewer young people in America
are using drugs today than when we began these efforts.

Our drug control strategy will continue all three elements of this
successful approach. It will also target a growing problem -- the abuse
of prescription drugs by youth. Unfortunately, many young Americans do
not understand how dangerous abusing medication can be. And in recent
years, the number of Americans who have died from prescription drug
overdoses has increased.

One of the factors behind this trend is the growing availability of
highly addictive prescription drugs online. The Internet has brought
about tremendous benefits for those who cannot easily get to a pharmacy
in person. However, it has also created an opportunity for unscrupulous
doctors and pharmacists to profit from addiction.

One victim of such a doctor was Ryan Haight. The young man from
California was only 18 when he overdosed on pain killers that were
illegally prescribed over the Internet. With only a few clicks of the
mouse, Ryan was able to get a prescription from a doctor he had never
met and have the pills sent to his front door. The doctor who wrote
Ryan's prescription had previously served time in prison for illegally
dispensing controlled substances.

We need to prevent tragedies like this from happening in the
future. So I'm asking Congress to work with my Administration to put an
end to the illegal sale of highly addictive prescription drugs on the
Internet. By working together to meet this goal, we can ensure a safer
future for our children.

Government action is only one part of the solution to the problem
of drug abuse. Others in our society have an important role to play as
well. People in the entertainment and sports industries serve as role
models to millions of young Americans, and that comes with the
responsibility to dispel the notion that drug abuse is glamorous and
free of consequences. Teachers, pastors, and parents also have an
obligation to help young people develop the character and self-respect
to resist drugs. The Federal Government will continue to do its part to
keep our young people safe, and I urge all Americans to do the same.
Our children deserve nothing less.